In 2009, Luis Lopes, 40 years old, worked as a tile layer in Charneca da Caparica, a residential area near Lisbon. His life was a repetitive cycle: early mornings, work, and returning home exhausted. His only joy was pooling money with friends for EuroMillions tickets, rarely hoping for a life change.

That June, luck smiled unexpectedly. Luis's group won the 50 million euro jackpot. His share was nearly 8 million euros. "I could not sleep for 15 days, filled with both anxiety and excitement," Luis recalled. Two months later, he quit his tile-laying job.

Luis Lopes in 2009. Photo: *Mirror*.

With his winnings, the 40-year-old began a lavish life. In 2010, he bought a villa, gave money to his grandchildren, and bought land for his siblings. A passionate Benfica fan, Luis followed the club to every international stadium. But wealth also brought trouble. Strangers constantly knocked on his door asking for help, making him feel overwhelmed in his new home.

"The new house brought no peace because it was too close to his old neighborhood; he could not escape those asking for money," Luis recounted.

The turning point came when Luis hired Sonia Valente, a lawyer recommended by friends, to manage his finances. With complete trust, he entrusted all legal and financial matters to her, signing every document Sonia presented without reading.

The lawyer repeatedly requested cash from Luis, citing reasons like tax payments or fines. Each transfer was no less than 50,000 euros (over 1.3 billion dong). "I had never paid taxes, so I did not understand how the system worked. I trusted her completely," he stated.

In 2018, suspicions arose. Luis checked and discovered the actual tax amount was much lower than what the lawyer reported. He filed a lawsuit against Sonia for fraud. In response, the lawyer denied the claims and counter-sued Luis for unpaid legal fees.

The court ruled in favor of the lawyer. Luis's assets were frozen, a part of his house confiscated, and his bank accounts blocked. From a millionaire, he returned to square one; his marriage also ended. Currently, Luis lives off the income from a small restaurant in Alentejo and still buys lottery tickets two times each week, hoping for a return of luck.

"Money comes in a flash, but without vigilance, it leaves just as quickly," the former millionaire reflected.

Ngoc Ngan (Source: *Mirror*)